CHURCH AND STAGE.

Press, Volume LXII, Issue 12377, 16 December 1905, Page 13

CHURCH AND STAGE.

On tho Sunday following Sir Henry Irving'e death Dr. Clifford epoke upon the career of the great English dramatist at. Westbourne Park Chapel. He ; ac~nowled;ed tihato are actor of the stamp and quality of Sir Henry affcete tho masses of the people as no; statesman or artist can ever hope to do. Ho cpoko of Irving'e high ideals and ■tho strong originality of hie intellect. 'Ho made hie own "Hamlet," bis own "Jlncteth." Hβ steeped every character in his own personality. "His aim," said Dr. Clifford, "cannot bo questioned for, a moment, and I jj'ito God thanks for any man who seeks to promote what i« pure and good in the amusements of tho people Ho made Shakespeare live as it is impossible to make him live in tho study. .. Ho brought .him eloso to men's consciences and hearts" as the printed page can never do." Speaking of Irving'e "conversion," Dr. Clifford said:' "Do not imagine that all oonverted people c«t ' inside the churches. There are nuroUore who have passed from darknees to , Utfht and yet who never daro to identify themselves with a Christian society. I often think that John Morley owes a great deal to hie Methodist aair eest ry. That grand ring which we heaur in his .voice waa learned under early : homo influences." Tho - dealt of Sir Henry Irving, Dr. Clifford pointed out, has turned the thoughts of the publio •to tho wider question of theatre-going. :On that subject Dr. Clifford takes a liberal view. Hβ,himself has only been threo or four times to a theatre during ■Ilia long career in London, and in exElanation of this ho said:—Vl should aye enjoyed going to tihe theatre. I hare no doubt that I 6hould have bonei fited by it- 1 But I had a higher purpose. I ihad serious responslbilitiee, and could not bring it within the range of my life." ; For those who allow themselves a wider latitude, Dr. Clifford laid down this rule: "You must diecriminate between tho bad theatre i»nd the good one, and you must be- ; were of excessive theatre-going. To go too much to the theatre, especially for young people, ifl to imperil the whole .career. Tho theatre has hot a primary place-in life, but it has a place! The ideal theatre ought to be helpful for the recovery of physical and mental elasticity after bard work."